Starsand Island: removal from Steam and future plans

Starsand Island, a popular life sim, has suddenly been removed from Steam, meaning PC players can no longer buy the game on the platform. The game had been available in early access for around two months before being pulled from sale.

Highlights of Starsand Island

Despite a rough start due to a few bugs, Starsand Island has impressed critics, earning generally high scores. The game offers a range of cozy activities, customization options, and opportunities for social interaction. Its popularity among Steam players was also noticeable, although the user score may have been artificially boosted by a review controversy.

The review controversy

There was a review controversy in which many players praised the game excessively after only a few minutes of play. The development team, Seed Sparkle Lab, asked these reviewers to stop posting inappropriate positive reviews. This has led to debate over how genuine the game’s testimonials really are.

Reason for removal

The removal of Starsand Island on April 9, 2026, nearly two months after the early access launch, was initiated by Steam due to copyright issues. According to a statement from Seed Sparkle Lab, one of the minigames unintentionally included elements from a classic game that had not been removed before the title could be released in early access. The specific minigame has not been revealed, but the team says the removal is temporary. A corrected version has been submitted for approval.

Future plans and compensation

Seed Sparkle Lab has promised that players will be able to keep their progress when the game returns to Steam. Save data should carry over after the update to the new build. To make up for the incident, the team is offering a free DLC for players, the Shining Star Outfit Set, which is expected to become available within seven business days of the removal. These dates suggest the game could return relatively soon.

Access on other platforms

Worryingly, the copyright dispute does not appear to have affected access to the game on Xbox. The early access version of Starsand Island is still available on Xbox Series X/S, and it remains accessible in the cozy games collection on Xbox Game Pass.

Future releases

There are also plans for a full release of Starsand Island, with support for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2, scheduled for summer 2026. These developments show Seed Sparkle Lab’s ambition to reach a broad audience with its unique gameplay experience.